Door latch or catch for cameras and other structures



June 11, 1940. i H. M. HENDRICKSON 2,204,359

DOOR LATCH OR CATCH FOR CAMERAS AND OTHER STRUCTURES Filed 001:. 28', 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 as: sa j? 0 g 26 a lll III; lllllw jl 2/ I INVENTOR.

flen ylllil'endrz'czzson ATTORNEY.

n 1940. H. M. HENDRICKSON 2,204,359

DOOR LATCH OR CATCH FOR CAMERAS AND OTHER STRUCTURES Filed Oct. 28, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4/ 24 2& 24 E8 7 INVENTOR. Henry JIHvndrz'cFcsQn.

of the said flange of the door. head whereof is accessible to be manually pushed,

Patented June l l, 1940 'DOOR LATCH OR CATCH FOR CAMERAS AN I OTHER STRUCTURES PATENT OFFICE Henry M. liendricksotl, Rochester, N. ass ignor I to The Folmer Graflex Corporation, Rochester, .N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 28, 1939, 'Serial No. 301,798 6 Claims. (or. 292 36) This invention relates to a door "latch or catch which, while of general applicationand may be employed on many difierent types of structures having doors, is particularly intended for use on photographic cameras to hold the door of the camera box or casing closed, yet permitting easy and positive operation in opening and closing the door. I

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the'accompanying drawings wherein Fig.1 is a perspective view ofthe door latch or catch removed from the camera box or other article of use;

Fig. 2 is a view mainly in'vertical. section showing the latch or catchas used on a camera, the camera door being shown as open;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but Showing the camera door closed;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the latch or catch inverted, more clearly to illustrate the relationship of the various parts;

Fig. 5 is a perspective detail of the buffer bar of the latch or catch; Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the camera, showing the latch or catch forced downward under the influence of the plunger and the door as being pushed open by the buffer bar; V I Fig.7 is a vertical sectional view, showing the camera door held firmly closed; I

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of thelatch or catch; Fig. 9 is'a top plan view thereof; and Fig. 10 is a bottom plan viewthereof. The latch or catch herein disclosed, although shown applied to a photographic camera to hold the door of the camera box or casing firmly shut,

is applicable to the doors of numerous structures among which may be enumerated refrigerators, automobiles and cabinets for various uses.

In its simplest form, the latch or catch includes a body portion preferably of resilient metal, such as sheet steel, adapted" to be secured to an' inner face of the structure, the door of which is to be held'closed or the opening of which door is :to be initiated by the said latch or catch. Carried by said body is a spring pressed buffer bar which engages one face of a flange or formation of the door, and said latch body also has one or more lips or holding dogs to engage the other face A plunger, the

is mounted in the wall of the structure to which the latch or catch is secured, and in' such man ner that pressure thereon flexes the resilient-body portion-of the latch or catchyand in so doing releases the lip or dog from engagement with the'outer face of the flange or formation on the door, thereby permittingthe said spring pressed buffer'bar automatically to move the door slightf lyf open, so that the door may then be readily grasped and moved by the hand of the user to full open position. Having thus generally described the structure and purpose of my invention, I will, withoutspe'cifically limiting myself thereto, refer in detail to the construction of the selected embodiment of my invention.

' I have chosen to represent the latch or catch as applied to a camera casing, but it is to be understood that while the invention is particularly applicable thereto, it may be used on vari ous other structures, among which I have enumerated refrigerators, automobiles and cabinets as merely representative of afwide capacity of use.

Desira-bly the latch or catch is constructed of a single piece of metal, such as sheet steel, having a sufficiently spring-like or resilient nature and providing a body part receiving certain mov-' ing parts of the latch or catch. Referring more particularly to the figures showing only the latch or catch as an entirety, the body portion thereof is indicated generally at 20. It preferably has a fiat surface a which is to be secured against an inner wall or part of the structure adjacent to the 'doorthereof. The fiat surface 20a. of the latch is provided with a suitable number of openings 2|, 2| for fastening the latch body to the camera box or other structure. At the termination of the flat surface 20a is a right angularly bent portion 2| a which is pierced by an opening 22, preferably centrally positioned with respect to the outer edges of the right angled portion 2| (1. The said portion 2| (1. is again bent at right angles as indicated at 22a, and the outer end or ends of the-portion or portions 220. is or. are bent over upon themselves to provide holding dogs or lips 23. The opposite end of the body of the latch or catch has a bent down portion 24 provided with a hole 24a, most clearly shown in Figs. .6 and'7. Supported in the structure or bodyportion of the latch, and preferablyby a partially tubular part 24b, is a spring-loaded buffer bar or plunger 25, the form of which is most clearly shown in Figs. 5, 6 and '7, wherein it appears thatit is'provided with a right angled end 2511. Surrounding the said buifer bar or plunger is a coiled spring b tending normally to force the end 25a of the buffer bar or plunger against a flange or formation of the door of the camera or other-structure aswill be hereinafter described. As shown clearly in the several figures of the drawings, the inner end of the buffer bar or plunger 25 is riveted over to form a head 25c preventing the buffer bar or plunger from being forced too far forward under the influence of the coiled spring 2%. Desirably, also, the buffer bar or plunger 25 while of a rectangular formation in part is of cylindrical form where surrounded by the coiled spring 2%.

I have represented particularly in Figs. 2, 3, 6 and 7 the latch or catch as applied to a camera box or casing indicated generally at 26. The said casing is provided with a hinged bed 27 and one or two side arm brackets 28, each of which, in the event two are employed, is attached to an upturned ear 29 upon the camera bed or door portion 2? by means of a shoulder rivet 30. The said camera box 26 is also provided with one or, it may be, two side arm brackets 3| each attached to the camera box 26 by screws 32, 32. The bracket 3i, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is provided with a shoulder rivet 33 received in a groove 3d of the side arm 28, so that the said groove slides along the said rivet when the camera door or bed 2i is being opened and closed, and said rivet rests in a notch 35 when the camera bed or door is all the way open, as shown in Fig. 2. The said side arm 28 is caused to turn in a clockwise direction under the influence of a bent-over spring plate 36 when the camera bed or door is in the all-the-way open position, thus causing the said slot 35 to engage the said shoulder rivet 38. This will prevent the camera bed or door 2'! from being closed except when the side arm 28 is pushed to the rear for the purpose of releasing the notch 35 from the shoulder rivet 33.

While I have specifically described the structure of the camera bed or door and the means for holding the same fully open, such means forms no part of the present invention and is merely referred to so that the disclosed application of the invention may be readily understood.

The said latch or catch 20 is attached to the inner face of the top of the camera box or casing 25 by means of screws 31, 3'! received in the holes 2|, 2! of the latch body part, thus leaving the part of the body portion in advance thereof springable (that is, capable of being sprung away therefrom). The top of the camera box is pierced by a circular opening just above the latch or catch 23 to receive a plunger 38, the head 38a of which is desirably concealed within the leather or like covering 38b of the camera case, but in such a way as to form a slight protrusion indicating where pressure is to be applied by the user. The said plunger 38 is received at its inner end directly upon the flat face Zila of the latch or catch 20 and desirably near the bent down portion Zia, so that pressure thereon will spring the described part of the body portion inward and release the door or bed 21.

It will be observed that when the door or bed 2! of the camera is closed as indicated in Fig. 3, the extreme edge of the lip or lips, dog or dogs 23 engages one face of a flange or formation 39 formed upon the door or bed 21. The said flange or formation is represented as downwardly bent from the edge of the metal portion of the door 21. The other face of the said flange or formation is, when the door 2'! is closed, engaged by the outer end of the buffer bar or plunger 25 which is pressed against said flange or formation 39 by the coiled spring 251). Thus the said flange or formation of the door 21 is firmly engaged at both surfaces or faces thereof, and the door is prevented from rattling.

When the finger-plunger 38 is pushed downward by pressure of a finger of the user of the camera or other structure, the body part 20a of the latch or catch 20, being of suitable resilient material, (that is, being springable) is caused to yield so that the lip or lips, dog or dogs 23 are cleared from the flange or formation 39 of the door. Instantly the force of the coiled spring 25b will cause the buffer bar or plunger 25 to open the door 21 slightly so that it may be readily grasped by the user of the camera or other structure and by him opened into the fullopen position shown in Fig. 2. The parts of the latch remain in the position shown in Fig. 2 until the door is cld'sed and when the door is closed the parts will be in the position shown in Figs. 3 and '7, wherein the buffer bar or plunger 25 is shown as thrust all the way back and the lips or dogs 23 as engaging the outer face of the flange orformation of the door 21. Thus the said door is held rigidly in position, preventing any vibration and automatically taking up all wear that may occur in the use of the camera or other structure to which the invention is applied.

The latch or catch herein disclosed is especial- 1y adapted for use on photographic cameras where a latch or catch is required that must be easily operated and yet be positive in its action. It cannot be easily jarred open, and yet must at the same time prevent the door of the camera from rattling due to any looseness in the latch parts. All of these requirements are fully met by the latch or catch herein disclosed.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A combined latch and opening-starter for camera doors and other structures, comprising in combination, a resilient, metallic body portion adapted to be secured at a part only thereof to an inner face of a fixed wall of the structure adjacent the position of the forward edge of the door when tightly closed to said inner face, leaving another part of the body portion capable of being sprung from latching position, and which door has at said leading edge a formation to be engaged by said latch, said body portion having at its said springable part, a part adapted to engage the outer face of said formation, and

having a spring pressed plunger to engage the opposite face of said formation, and a fingeractuated plunger mounted in said fixed wall of the structure at such springable part of said body portion of the said latch, whereby pressure against said latter plunger releases said part of the latch from said formation and permits said spring pressed plunger to force open the said door.

2. A combined latch and opening-starter for camera doors and other structures, comprising, in combination, a resilient, metallic body portion adapted to be secured at a part only thereof to an inner face of a fixed wall of the structure adjacent the position of the forward edge of the door when tightly closed to said inner face, leaving another part of the body portion capable of being sprung from latching position, and which door has at said leading edge a formation to be engaged by said latch, said body portion having at its said springable part, integrally formed mounted in the said body portion of said latch therewith a lip adapted to engage the outerface of said formation, a, spring I pressed plunger so as to engage the opposite face of said formation, and a finger-actuated plunger mounted in said fixed wall of the structure'adjacent to and in a position to contact with said resilient body portion at such springable par-t, whereby pressure against'said latter plungerreleasesthe said lip from said formation and permits the said' spring-actuated plunger to force open thedoor. A combined latch and, opening-starter for camera doors andother structures comprising, in

combination, a resilient, metallic body portion adapted to besecured at a part only thereof to an inner face of afixedwall ofithe structure adjacent'the position ofthe' forward edge of the j door when tightly 'closed to said inner face, leavmg another part ofthe bodyportion capable of, being sprung from latching, position, and which door has at said leading edge a formation to be engaged by said latch, said body portion 'at its said springablepart being bent to form a terminal lip adapted to engage the outer face of said formation, a spring pressed plunger supported by said body portion of the latch and having an end to engage the opposite face of said forma-* tion, and a finger-actuating plunger mounted in said fixed wall of the structure adjacent to and in a position to contact with said resilient body; portion at such springablepart, whereby pres- I sure against said latter plunger releases thesaid lip from said formation and permits the said spring-actuated plunger'toforce open the door, 1

'4. A. combined latch and opening-starter for cameradoors and other structures comprising, in combination, a resilient, metallic body portion adapted to besecured at a part only thereof to an inner face of a fixed wall of-ithe structure adjacent the position of: the forward edge of-the door when tightly closed to said-inner face, leaving another part of the body portion capable of being sprung from latching position, ,and which door has at said leading edge aformation to beengaged by saidlatchysaid body portion'at its said springable part being bent at a plurality of points so as to providespaced end lips and I spring having an opening therebetween, Va pressed plunger supported by the body'portion of the latch and having sliding movement in said opening, the end of I'saidplunger being adapted to engage the opposite face of said formation, and a finger-actuated plunger mounted in said fixed wall of the structure adjacent to and in aposition to contact with said resilient body portion at such springablepart, whereby pressure against said latter plungerreleases the said lip from said formation and permits the said springact-uated plunger to force open the door.

5. Acombined'latch and opening-starter for camera doors and other structures comprising, "in combination, a resilient, metallic body'portionadapted to be secured at a part only thereof adjacent the position of the forward edge of the door when tightly closed to said inner face, leaving another part of the body portion. capable of beingsprung from latching position, and which door has at said leading edge a formation to be engaged by said latch, said'body portion at its said springable part beingbent to provide the parts 2 I-a,-22a as continuations of themain body portion and providing terminal lips, the said body portion having an opening 22 between the lateral sides of the bent portion 21a, 22a, a

spring pressed plunger supported by said body portion for movement in said opening 22, the

said plunger having a formation to engage the opposite face of the formation upon the door, anda finger-actuated plunger mounted in said fixed wall of the'structure adjacentto and in a position to' contact with saidresilient body portion at such springable part, whereby pressure against said latter plunger releases the said lip from said formation and permits the said springactuated plunger to force open the door.

- 6, A combined-latch and opening-starter for camera doors and other structurescomprising,

in combination, a resilient, -metalli'c body p01- tionadapte d to be secured at a part only thereof to aninnerface of ,a fixed wall of the structure adjacent the position of the'forward edge of the ;,door when tightly closed to said inner face, leaving another part of the body portion capableof i to an innerface "of a fixed wall'of the structure being sprung fromqlatching position, andv which door has at said leading edge a formation tobe Pengaged by said latch,'the said body portion at its said springable part being bent atsubstantially right angles and again bent at substantially' right angles, thereby providing terminal lips 'inparallelism-but spaced apart, the said body portion" having an opening between the lateral sides ofthe said bent portions, a spring pressed plunger supported by said body portion for movement in the said opening thereof, said plunger having a part to engage the opposite 

